DON’T BE NAIVE!

DON’T BE NAÏVE!

On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. —Esther 8:1-2

Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. —Acts 6:11-15

            There are those in leadership positions, whether government, religious, or otherwise, who will do wicked and evil things to further their purposes.  In the case of Esther chapter 7- 8 It was Haman, the king’s right-hand-man, who manipulated the king to have all the Jews in the kingdom eradicated.  It would have happened except that our Lord God Almighty had positioned one person, Esther, in the right place at the right time to do the right thing.  By doing the right thing God worked through her to turn the tables and those who would have destroyed the Jews were instead wiped out.

            So too was it with Stephen.  Men desired to kill him as well.  Those in positions of authority “secretly instigated men” to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”  They also “stirred up the people” and “set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.’”  But in the case of Stephen these wicked men murdered him.

            Don’t be naïve!  There are evil men in power at all times seeking to manipulate to get their way.  They have people they dislike and would kill them if they could.  Evil, wicked men have had millions of their own people killed in the past.  These power hungry, self-exalted and self-focused people only care about themselves.  This sin-sick fallen world has had murderers from the very beginning (Genesis 4:1-10).  And no surprise— Jesus said of Satan that he “was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).  Those who belong to Satan will blatantly lie and murder.  They will use any “tool” they can to accomplish their task— covid (or any health “crisis”), open borders, the proliferation of drugs, human/sex trafficking, disarming those they want to control, the manipulation of the economy, lawlessness, regulations…  Don’t be naïve, but be aware!

Dear Father help me to understand the times we are in and to do Your will regardless of what is going on.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsQ58qn7G_4

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